Bag-filling machine.



J. L. DROHEN.

BAG FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00124. 1903. RENEWBD AUG.30.1905.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

Wh-lanes.

J. L. DROHEN.

BAG FILLING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 24, 1903. RENEWED AUG. s0, 1005.

938,025. Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 3.

UNITED srnzrns PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. DE01-IEN, OF DUNKIRK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, TO JOHN C. STUBGEON'AND HAROLD H.

STURGEON, 0F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BAG-FILLING HACHINE.

Specilcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

Application filed October 24, 1903, Serial No.178,404. Renewed August S, 1906. Serial No. 276,474.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES'L. DiaorinN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dunkirk, in the county of Chautauqua and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful' Improvements in Bag-Filling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

and to the letters of reference marked thereon, form-ing part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bag-filling machines, and particularly to such machines for automatically measuring and depositing predetermined amounts cfa-seed, or othermaterial, in liat bags, gumming and sealing the bags.

The object of my invention is the construction of a bag-filling machine in which seed or other material contained in a suitable receptacle, is measured and delivered in measured quantities to a seed-carrier which automatically opens and enters a flat bag, detaching the same from a bag' holder, and deposits the seed therein in such bag, after which, the bag having been previously gummed, the seed-carrier carries the bag to, and leaves it in position to be sealed, when sealing mechanism operates to seal the flap down upon the bag; all of which steps are performed automatically, one after the other, until finally the filled and sealed bag is deliyered from the machine.

In the construction of a bad-filling machine embodying my inventiom` provide the machine with a suitable receptacle for holding a quantity of seed or other material, and with a measuring apparatus adapted to measure and remove predetermined quantities of seed or other material from such receptacl'e. I also provide a bag-holder adapted to retain a series of iatjpaper bags, with the open ends thereof up, and mechanism for moving said bags toward the open or delivery end oi said bag-holder or guide-box. I also provide a gumming mechanism adapted to gum the outermost bag in the delivery end of the bag-holder or guide-box. carrier is provided which reciprocates verti- Also a seed A -cally adjacent to the delivery end of the guide-box, which seed carrier near the uppermost part of its traverse receives seed from the measuring apparatus and in its Y downward traverse enters the outermost bagl at the delivery end' of the guide-box or bag- .holder, detaches -the bag' from the bag-holder, deposits'the seed therein in the bag and carries' the bag downward and delivers it to a sealing' apparatus, Where mechanism isprovided for turning over the bag-flap and sealing it down upon the gummed surface of the bag. I also provide a rotary carrier upon which the bags are sealed and carried around unt-il the gum-seal sets, when mechanism provided therefor releases the bags, so that they are delivered from the machine filled and sealed. Mechanism is also provided for operating each Dart of the mechanism at the proper time relatively to vthe operation of the others, and which so operates the mechanism that one bag after another is a'utomatically gummed', detached from the bagholder, filled with a measured material, sealed and'delivered.

The features of this invention are hereinquantity of after fully set forth and described, and illustrated Vin the accompanying drawings in which: l .A y

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of the machine with the seedcarrier at the uppermost point` of its traverse. Fig'. 2; is a sid-e view in elevation of the right-hand side of the machine with the seed-carrier at its uppermost point oftraverse. Fig. 3 is a front View in elevation of the same with the seed-carrier at the lowermost point of its traverse. Fig. 4 is a side view in elevation of the left-hand side of the machine with .the seed-carrier at the. lowerrnost point of vided with a downwardly projectin B extending upward thereto from the frame A.

The front end of the receptacle C is prooutlet or spout C through which materia is dis charged therefrom. In the upper part of the receptacle C there is mounted a transverse shaft P having arms p in the outer ends of which measuring cups O are pivoted, adapted to dip up seed or other material in the receptacle C when the shaft P is rotated. On the inside of one of the sidesof the receptacle C, there is a stationary cam P, and on said cam P the inner ends (provided with friction rollers) of sliding bars p, the outer ends of which are pivoted to cranks o on the p-ivots of the cups O, operate in the ends of the arms p, so that when the cups are rotated to the lowermost portion of their traverse they are nearly transverse to the ends of the arms p, so that they will dip material up and become filled therewith, and as the arms p reach, in turn, their uppermost position, the action of the cam P on the sliding bars p operate to maintain the cups in nearly an upright position, and as they vpass around over the outlet C of the receptacle C, the cam P operates on the sliding bars p to tip the cups O, s0 as to dischar e the contents thereof through the outlet of the receptacle C.

For operating the measuring mechanism the shaft P is provided with a sprocket wheel R from which a sprocket chain R extends to a small sprocket wheel on the shaft of the gear wheel J2. The sprocket `wheels are of such relative size as to time the discharge of the measuring cups C, so

'that they will discharge their contents throu h the outlet or spout C of the receptacle just when the seed-carrier, hereinafter described, is approximately at its highest point of traverse, and the upper end thereof embracing the lower end of the spout or outlet C. y

Upon the frame A, below the'receptacle C there is secured a bag-holder D for holding fiat bags D with their open ends upward. The ba -holder D is provided with a follower l'f and cord and weight mechanism d d operatin on the follower D2 for moving it towar the front or delivery end of the bag-holder D. The upper part of the front or delivery end of the bag-holder D is provided with lip-holders d2, adapted `to engage the upwardly projecting lip or flap of the outermost of the bags D, and stops d3 are provided in the sides of the end of the bag-holder D, adapted to engage the end of the outermost of the bags D so that the lipholder Z2 and stops d3 operate to retain the ates to bring the next bag forward into po sition against the lip-holders dL and stops d".

On the frame A under the bag-holder D, I mount a rotary carrier E provided with vradial arms equi-distant from each other.

On the ends of the arms of the carrier E, I provide inclined faces e, and to ears on the ends of which I hinge bag-flap folders e on pivots c2, and provided with retracting springs e3 which operate to hold them open when they are turned back past the central pivot e?, and to close them when they are turned forward past said pivot, to accomplish which I provide a tripping arm e* on one end of the bag-flap folder e adapted to engage tripping mechanism hereinafter described as the carrier E is rotated. I also secure to the backs of the parts e adjustable bag supports e", these features beingclearly shown in the enlarged detail Figs'. 5 and 6. For operating the rotary carrier E, I provide a crank-pin J3 (see Fig. 2) on the inner face of the camwheel J from which a pitman extends downward to a lever L pivoted at the frame A, and as the lever L is raised' the hook Me'ngages one of the studs k on the arms of the carrier E (see Fig. 5) and as the lever L moves downward the carrier E is turned the distance of the traverse of the lever L downward at the point where the hook-arm M is pivoted thereto. On the frame A there are also hook-stops K and K (the stop K being spring actuated) which engage the studs /c on the arms of the carrier E, and prevent any movement of the carrier E after it has been moved to osition by the hookarm M, and when the 100k-arm M is raised to its uppermost position to engage a stud It' it operates on the spring actuated stop K to disengage it from the stud k, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. VCn the upright B an arm F is mounted so as to slide 'u p and down freely thereon. This arm F is reciprocated by means of the lever L hereinbefore referred to as operating the hookarm M. To the outer end of this lever L there is pivoted a link l which connects at its upper end with the rods Z which extend `up to and` connect with the arm F so that the movement up and down of the free end of the lever L operates to move the arm F up and down on the upright B, and it will be observed that the carrier Evbeing operated by thev same lever L is rotated during the downward movement of the'arm F. To the arm F there is secured a hollow seed-carrier F the upper end of which passes up over and embraces the lower end of the outlet or spout C of the receptacle C when the arm F is at or near its uppermost point of traversc. The lower portion of the seed-carrier osmosis is wedge-shaped, and one side of the lower part thereof consists of a swinging door or gate f swung from its upper end, and retained in a normally closed position until the seed-carrier has passed down far Aenough to insert the lower end thereof into a bag on the bag-holder, by an arm f" on the door or gate f, which arm carries a roller which contacts against a downwardly projecting cam-shaped arm c secured to the outlet or spout C of the receptacle C, and after the lower part of the seed-carrier has entered a bag, and the roller on the arm f passes ofi' of the arm c, a spiral spring f connecting the arm f" with the body of the seed-carrier operates to throw the door or gate fopen and allow the material in the seed-carrier to pass therefrom into the bag. I do not, however, wish to confine myself to this exact mechanism for retaining the door or gate f in a closed position and for opening it, as the action of the cam arm o and of the spring on the arm f may be reversed in their operation with as good results as those hereinbefore described. To the seed-carrier I+" above the hinge on they door or gate f there are secured two downwardly projecting spring arms f* which when the lower part of the seed-carrier F and the door or gate f thereon pass into afbag, the spring arms f4 pass down outside of the bag and when' the door or gate opens inside of the bag it clamps the side of the bag between it and the ends of the spring-arms f4 and prevents the bag with the seed therein from falling off of the seed-carrier, and holds the bag on the seedcarrier until the bag has been carried down by the seed-carrier to, and the lowerend thereof grasped by clamping mechanism hereinafter described. The lower end of the seed-carrier F below the lower end of the door or gate fis'prefe'rably provided with a rigid tapering spike-like extension f2 which is adapted to enter between the flap and shorter ply of the bag at the upper end of the outermost bag in the bag-holder and guides the lower end of the seed-ca'rier into the bag, and passes down into the bag to the bottom thereof, and operates to direct the lower end of the bag as it is moved downward by the seed-carrier, until it reaches the clamping mechanism hereinafter described, uhich grasps the lower end of the bag and holds it until the seed carrier has been withdrawn from the bag and the bag is operated upon by the folding mechanism hereinafter described. v

In the frame A there is mounted a trans-- verse shaft I3 on one end of which-there is an arm I provided atits opposite end with a clamping jaw I2 which is adapted, when the arm l. is moved forward, to clamp the lower end of a bag against the adjustable bag supports e on the parts e on the ends of the arms of the carrier E. This operation of clamping ythe lower end of the bag is performed just as the seed-carrier has moved the bag to its lowermost point of traverse, and as soon as the folding mechanism, here-l inafter described, operates on the upper orflap-end of the bag, the arm I and the clamping jaw I2 t-hereon'recede and release the lower end of the bag. These operations of the arm I and clamp jaw-I2 thereon are actuated and controlled by a lever I which engages a cam surface J on the cam wheel J on the shaft of the gear Wheel J 2- of the machine, (see Fig. 3), which cam surface J is so shaped that as it rotates under the lever I it raises and lowers it (it being kept in contact with the cam-surface J by a retracting spring z') and the arin'I on the opposite-end of the shaft I3, so as to move the arm I forward so as to clamp the lower end of the bag against the bag supports e5, just 85 as the lower end of the bag is brought down to said supports, and to .move it .back and release the bag just as soon as the folding mechanism operates. In the frame A there is also mounted another transverse shaft H3 on one end of which is mounted an arm H and on the other end an operating lever vH which engages and is operated by acamsurface J on the cam wheelv J on the shaft 0f the gear wheel J 2 of the machine, and is kept in contact with the surface of said cam by a retracting spring It (see Fig. 3).

On the arm Hthere is a U-shaped sprin h2 which, as the larm H -moves forwari serves to force the upper end of the bag, clamped at its lower end to the sup ort e, back against the inclined face e on t e arln of the carrier E, and a folding-blade H2 secured to the arm H, following the act-ion of said spring clamp, engages the bag-flap 105 at the foldin line and creases it, and as the folding bla e starts back the U -shaped spring h2 remains in contact wit-h the upper part of the bag retaining'it in position on the inclined surface c until the hook h on the arm H has engaged the tripping arm e* on one end of the bag-flapv folder e and as the camsurface J acting through thelever H moves the arm H back to its rearmost lposition the hook L draws the bag-Hap i folder e over far enou h so that the s rings e3 acting thereon turns the bag-flap folder e down upon the inclined face 'e' folding the bag-flap down onto the shorter ply of the bag resting thereon, and clamps the bag-flap 12@ down upon the shorter ply of the bag, which shorter vply having been gummed, aslhereinafter described, is thereby sealed.

In the operation of this machine it is necessary to apply paste to the shorter ply of each of the outermost bags in the bag-holder before it is removed therefrom. For accomplishing this purpose I provide a pasting apparatus, which consists preferably of a. paste tank S mounted on the frame A at one Side of the front or delivery end of the bagholder D, in which tank there is a paste cylinder S which is intermittently rotated by means of a clutch mechanism T on the shaft thereof, operated by a crank t on the shaft of the gear wheelJz. A pitman T connecting said crank with the lever of the clutch -mechanism T. In the front of the paste box there is slot S3 substantially in line with the front end of the outermost of the bags D on the bag-holder D. Secured to the upper part of the upright B there is an arm Q, to which is pivoted by means of hinged joints, parallel links q q', and to` 'shorter ply of said bag. To produce this movement Il secure to the'upper part of the link g a loop g2, and-tothe arm FV I secure a vertically extending cam-shaped arm V, which passes upward through the loop g2 and operates the lines g g', as the arm moves upward, to withdraw the paste-carrier U from the slot Sa and move it laterally untilv it is opposite the outermost bag in the bag;

holder D and then bring it into contact therewith, and as the arml F` moves downward the operation of the links g g is reversed andthe paste-carrier U is returned to the slot in the paste tank as before. It will be observed'that rthis operation of the paste-carrier U is so timed in relation to the movement of the arm F and the seedcarrier F carried thereby that thepastecarrier U deposits aste on the outermost bag in the bag-holder just when the seedcarrier F is at its highest point of traverse, and immediately as the seed-carrier starts to move downward the paste carrierU is withdrawn and starts back on its traverse to the paste tank.

For operating the mechanism hereinbefore described there is a driving wheel N', on the shaft N of which there is a gear pinion n which intermeshes with the large gear wheel J2.

In operation when seed or other material is placed in the rece tacle C and bags D placed in the bag-ho der D with their flap ends u n and with their shorter lys toward the delivery end of the bag-ho der and in contact with the lip-holder d2 and studs 053 at the delivery end of the bagholder, the driving wheel N is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and when the seed-carrier F reaches the uppermost point of its traverse, one of the cups O discharges its contents through the outlet or spout C of the recep-l tacle C, and-at the same time the paste-car- I rier U contacts with the shorter ply of the endmost bag in the bag-holder and deposits paste thereon. The seed-carrier then moves downward and the rigid lprojection thereon enters the endmost bag in the bag-holder between the flap and the shorter ply thereof and guides theI wedge shaped lower end of the-seed-carrier I1" into the bag'and nearly simultaneously therewith the bag is removed by the seed-carrier F from the bag-holder, and the door or gate f thereof opened and the material in the seedfcarried deposited in the ba 0', the open door or gate fv at the same instant camping the shorter ply of the bag between it and the spring arms f* f. Meanwhile the seed-carrier I4" continuing its downward traverse brings the lower end of the bagV into contactwith the bag-supports e on the rotary carrier E, which rotary carrier E has,

been moved forward durin the downward traverse of the seed-carrier to the proper position therefor. As soon as the lower` end of the bag has'reached the bag-supports e54 the clamping mechanism I2 clamps it against the bag-supports eli and then the seed-carrier F starts on its upward traverse and is thereby withdrawn from the bag, and as soon as the seed-carrier has passed upward a sufficient distance tobe out ofthe way of the folding blade, the arm H moves forward and the U-shaped spring thereon contacting with the uper part of the bag presses it over upon the inclmed surface e on the arm of the rotary carrier E, and the folding-blade H2 on the arm H following it creases .the

bag-flap at the fold line thereof; meanwhile the hook-arm 11, on the arm H has engaged the arm e* of the ba -flap folder e and at this instant the arm begins its backward movement by which the ho0karm h turns the bag-ilapfolder e sufiiciently so that the spring e3 acting thereon turns the bag-flap folder e down and closes the bag-flap down upon the shorter ply of the bag, and clamps it in that position, and the clamp I2 at the lower end of the bag having meanwhile beeny released the rotary carrier E is ready to bek p moved forward another space to receive another bag in like manner as has hereinbefore been described. The filled and sealed bags are thus carried on around until the trippin arm e* of the bag-Hap folder e contacts wit 1 a fixed stop a on the frame A which raises and turns back the bag-Hap folder e and releases the filled and sealed bag held thereby so that it will drop away from the machine.

I have thus described a preferred construction of the several parts of the mechanism of my invention. I am aware however that the construction and arrangement of many of the parts thereof may be considerably modified by others skilled in the art to eaaoas which this invention appertains without departin from the spirit of my invention'. There ore "hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States is:

l. The combination in a bag-illing machine of a bag-holder, a vertically7 .reciprocating hollow seed-carrier, a rigid spikedike extension -on the lower end of the seed-carrier to enter the end-most bag on the bagholder, direct the seed-carrier into said bag, contact with the bottom thereof and carry it down to a position to be sealed, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a bag-filling ma-A chine, of a bag-holder, a vertically recipro eating hollow seed-carrier, .a rigid spike-like extension on the lower end of the seed-carrier, a rotating measuring mechanism to dcliver seed into the seed-carrier, a hinged door on the seed-carrier, means for reciprocating .the seed-carrier to cause the spike-like extension thereon to enter the endmost bag on the bag-holder and direct the seed-carrier into the bag, contact with the bottom thereof and carry 1t to a position to be sealed and means for operating the door on said seedcarrier after it has entered the bag, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a bag-filling machine, of a bag-holder, an intermittently rotary-carrier under the bag-holder, a gumming mechanism to gum the endmost bag on the bag-holder, a vertically reciprocating seed-carrier, a tapering spike-like extension on the lower end of the seed-carrier to enter the endmost bag in the bag-holder, direct the seed-carrier into the bag,` ass down therein to the bottom thereof an ,convey4 the bag down upon the 'rotary carrie-r, clamping mechanism to clamp the ba to the rotary carrier, vand flap-folding me rotary carrier to fold down the bag-ap and Seal it, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a bag-filling ,ma- A chine, of a seed-receptacle, airotar measur-v ing mechanism therein, a bag-ho der, a reclprocating hollow .seed-carrier to receive measured quantities of seed from the measuring mechanism, a spike-like extension on the lower end of the seed-carrier to enter the endmost bag .on the bag-holder and direct the seed-carrier therein, a door on the lower end of the seed-carrier, and means for o ning said door after the seed-carrier and oor are within the bag, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in a bag-filling machine, of a measuring mechanism, a bagholder, a rotary carrier below the bag-holder, bag-flap turning and sealing mechanism on the rotary carrier, mechanism for depositing paste on the shorter ply ofthe endmost bag` mfthe bag-holder, a hollowseed carrier reciprocating vertically adjacent toy the de-.l

anism on saidceptacle a .deliver measured livery end of the bag-holder and ada ted to receive seed from the measuring mec anism at its uppermost point of traverse, a door on said seed-,rriem a ri id spike-like extension on the lower end o the seed-carrier to enter the endmost bag on the bag-holder, direct the seedcarrier therein, detach the bag from .the bag-holder, and carry it down upon the rotary carriertolbe sealed, means for opening the door on the seed-carrier after it is within the bag, means for operating the seed-carrier, and means for intermittently operating the rotary carrier, substantially as set forth.

6. In a bag-fillingy machine a rotary carrier, radial arms thereon equi-distant from each other adapted to receive the ends of a bag, spring-actuated ba -flap-folders on said arms, and cam actuate hooked-leverfmechanism operating to close said bag-fla folders, -cam mechanism for engaging an opening said `bag-flap folders, bag supports on the rotary carrier and cam actuated mechanism operating intermittently to 'clamp the lower ends o the bags to bag-supports, substantially as set forth.

7. In a .bag-filling machine, a bag-holder, a rotary carrler under the bag-holder, radial anms equi-@distant from each other on said carrier, studs on said arms adapted to engage latches on the machine frame, crank, lever and hook mechanism adapted to intermittently rotate said carrier, bag-flap folding and `bag supporting mechanism on the ends of -said arms, sprmgs on said carrier for actuating the .bag-flap folders, mechanism for closing and opening the bag-flapfolde-rs, substantially as set forth.

8. In a bag-filling machine, a bag-holder,- means for moving bags toward the discharge ers, a hollow reciprocating. seed-carrier adapted to enter. the endmost bag on the bag-holder, detach it therefrom, deposit a measured quantity of seed in the said bag and carry it .down upon the rotary carrier, mechanism for clamping the lower end of the bag u on the rotary carrier, a seed reve the bag-holder, a rotating measuring mechanism therein adapted to uantities of seed into the seed-carrier when 1t is in its uppermost position, and means operating said mechanisms in such time, each with the other, that they will coperate, substantially as set forth.

9. In a bag-filling machine, a bag-holder, a reciprocating seed-carrier a rigid tapering spike shaped extension thereon, adapted to enter the endmost bag in the bag-holder,

.substantially as set forth.

ass down into the bag and detach it thererom, a door or gate on the seed-earner which is retained 1n a closed position untll the seed-carrier enters the bag, means for opening the gate or door after the seed-carrier has entered the ba and means for closing it after the seefI-carrier has been withdrawn from the bag, substantially as set forth.

10. In a bag-filling machine seed-carrier, a hollow body wedge-shaped at its lower end, a door or gate forming -one side of the wedge shaped portion thereof, means for retaming said door or gate in a normally closed position, downwardly extending spring arms secured to the seed-carrier above the door or gate, and an extension on the seed-carrier extendin downward from the lower end of the ho low part thereof, substantially as set forth.

11. In a bag-filling machine, a rotary can rier, bag-supports thereon, a rock-shaft mounted in said machine frame, an arm secured thereto and adapted to operate intermittently, clamp mechanism thereon adapted to clamp the lower end of. a bag against the bag-sup orts on the rotary carrier, a lever on said rock-shaft, and a rotary cam for actuating said lever and thereby o erating said clamp mechanism, substantialy as set forth.

12. In a bag-filling machine, a rotary carrier, an inclined face and a bag-flap turner thereon, an arm secured to a rock-shaft mounted in the machine frame,` a lever on the opposite end of said shaft engaging and intermittently operated by a rotary cam, a s ring clamp on said arm adapted to ress tie upper end of a bag against the inc ined surface of the rotary carrier, a folding blade on said arm to crease the Hap of a bag after it has been clamped against the inclined face on the rotary .carrier during vthe forward movement of the arm, and a hooked arm on said arm to engage and turn a bagflap turner during the backward movement of said arm, substantially as set forth.

13. In a bag filling machine, the combination With a funnel, a closure for the funnel located at the discharge end or spout thereof, bag presenting means, means to effect a relative movement of the funnel and bag presenting means thereby to carry the funnel end into and out of the bag, means directly co-acting with and to operate the closure independently of the funnel contents to permit the discharge of the funnel contents,

14. In a bag filling machine, the combi nation with a funnel, a closure for the funnel located at the discharge end or snout thereof, bag presenting means, means to effect a relative movement of the funnel and bag presenting means thereby to carry the funnel end into and out of the bag, means co-acting externally of the funnel with and to operate the closure to permit the discharge of the funnel contents, `substantially as set forth.

15. In a bag filling machine, the combination with a funnel, a closure for the funnel located at the discharge end or snout thereof,'bag presenting means, a bag opener 'to enter in advance of the funnel and open the bag to be filled, means to effect a relative movement of the funnel and bag presenting means thereby to carry the funnel end into and out of the bag, means directly co-acting with `and to operate the closure inde endently of the funnel contents to permlt the discharge of the funnel contents, substantially as set forth.

16. In a bag filling machine, the combination With a funnel, a closure for the funnel located at the discharge e'nd or snout thereof, bag presenting means, a bag opener to enter in advance of the funnel and open the bag to be filled, means to effect a relative movement of the funnel and bag presenting means thereby to carry the funnel end into and out of the bag, means co-acting externally of the.

funnel with and to operate the closure to substantially as set forth.

17. In a bag filling machine, the combination with a funnel, a closure for the funnel located at t-he discharge end or snout thereof, means for lowering and raising the funnel to carry it into and-out of the bag, means directly co-acting with and to operate the closure independently of the funnel contents to permit the discharge of the funnel contents, substantially as set forth.

18. In a bag filling machine, the combination with a funnel, a closure' for the funnel located at the discharge end or snout thereof, means for lowering and raising the funnel to carry it into and out of the bag, means coacting externally of the funnel with and to operate the closure to permit the discharge of the funnel contents, substantially as set forth.

19. In a bag-filling machine, the combination with a funnel, a closure for the funnel located at the discharge end or snout thereof, a bag opener to enter in advance of the fun nel and open the bag to be filled, means for lowering and raising the funnel to carry it into and out of the bag, means directly co-' nel and'open the bag to be filled, means for lowering and raising the funnel to carry it into and out of the bag, means co-acting externally of the funnel with and to operate ,discharge of the funnel contents esame *E* the closure to permit the discharge of the funnel contents, substantially as set forth.

21. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel, a closure for the funnel located at the discharge end or snout of the funnel, means to enter and open a bag,means for raising and lowering the funnel, and devices for operating the closnre to permit tlile discharge of the funnel content-s into a bag to be fille'd, substantially as set forth.

22. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel. a closure for the 'funnel located at the discharge end of the funnel` a bag opener projecting beyond 'the end or snoutof the funnel to enter and open a baOf, means for raising and lowering the funnel, and devices for operating the closure to permit the discharge of the funnel contents inte a bag to be filled, substantially as set forth.

23. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel, a closure for the funnel hinged to the discharge end or snout of the funnel, means to enter and open a bag, means for raising and lowering the funnel, and devices for swinging the closure' on its hinges to permitV thedischarge of the funnel contents into a bag to be filled, substantially as set forth.

24. In a bag filling machine, the vcombination of a funnel, a closure for the funnel vhinged to the discharge ond of the funnel, a

bag opener projecting beyond the end or snout. of the funnel to enter and open a bag, means for raising and lower-iu@` the funnel, and devices for swinging tlie c osure on its hinge to permit the discharge of the funnel contents into a bag to be filled, substantially as set forth.

251 In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel, a closure located at the lower end of the funnel and normally obstructing discharge of material therefrom, means for raising and lowering the funnel, a bag opener movable in advance of the funnel to enter and open thebag` to befilled, and means operable on the downward movement of the funnel for actuating the closure to permitdischarge of the funnel contents into this bag1 substantially as set forth.

26. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel, a measuring device for supplying measured quantities of material to the funneh a closure located at the lower end of the funnel and normally obstructing discharge of material therefrom, means for raising and lowering the funnel` a bag opener' movable in advance of the funnel to enter and open the bag to be filled, and means operable on the downward movement of the funnel for actuating the closure to permit into this bag, substantially as set forth.

2T. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel, a closure located at the lower end of the funnel and normally obstructing discharge of material therefrom, means for raising and lowering the funnel, closure operating devices located externally of the funnel, and means for controlling the action of said devices to cause them to move the closure'when the funnel enters t-he bag to be filled. substantially as set forth.

28. in a bag filling machine, the combination of a. funnel, means for raising and lowering the funnel, a closure located at the lower end of the funnel and normally obstruct-ing discharge of material therefrom, a bag opener movable in advance of the funnel to enter and open the bag to be filled, an arm for moving said closure and a projection or cam for operating said arm on the downward movement of the funnel to permit the contents of the funnel to be discharged into the bag, substantially as set forth.

29. In a bag filling machine, 'the combination of a funnel, means for raisin and lowering the funnel, a ;closure normal y obstructing discharge of material therefrom, and comprising a hinged cover for the lower end or snoutof the funnel, a bag opener movable in advance of the funnel to enter and open a bag to be filled, an arm for moving said closure and a projection or cam for operating said arm on the downward movement of the funnel to permit the contents of the funnel to be discharged into the bag, substantially as set forth.

30. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel, means for raising and lowering the funnel, a closure normally obstructing discharge of material therefrom, said closure comprising a hinged cover for the end or snout of the funnel having a projecting portion, a bag opener having its end movable in advance of the funnel for entering and opening a bag, and a fixed cam or projection -operating through the projecting portion of the hinged cover on the downward movement of the funnel for opening the end or snout, of the funnel for the discharge of the lfunnel contents, substantially asset forth.

31. In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel, means for raising and lowering said funnel, a cover or closure for the lower end or snout of the funnel and Inormally obstructing the discharge of material therethrough, a bag opener movable in advance of the end or snout of the funnel to open the bag for entrance of the said closed end or snout of the funnel, a stationary projection or cam, means movable with the funnel and adapted for engagement with said projection or cam to operate the cover or closure as the funnel moves to its .lower position. substantially as set forth.

In a bag filling machine, the combination of a funnel, a closure for the funnel located at the discharge end or snout of the funnel, means to enter and open' a bag, means for raising and lowering the funnel to Carry its end or snout within the bag, ,and devices for operating the closure to permit lthe discharge ofthe funnel contents after the end or snout has entered the bag to be filled, substantially as set forth.

33. In a bag lling machine, the combinavtion of a funnel,` a closure located at the lower end of the funnel and normally obstructing the discharge of material therefrom, means for raising and lowering the funnel to carry the lower end of the funnel within the bag, a bag opener movable in advance of the funnel to enter and open the bag to be filled, and means operable on the downward movement of the funnel when the lower end of the funnel has entered the bag for actuating the closure to permit discharge of the funnel contents into the bag, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature, in presence of two Witnesses.

H. M. STURGEON, F. J. BAssm'r. 

